Breaking: Reid Yanks Defense Authorization Bill To Force GOP's Hand

TPM CAFE ^ | 7-18-07 | Greg Sargent

[tcrlaf]

Ratcheting up the stakes in the wake of the GOP's successful blocking of a vote on Iraq withdrawal just moments ago, Harry Reid just announced on the Senate floor that he won't allow a vote on the entire Defense Authorization bill until the Senate GOP drops its filibustering of votes on Iraq.

The move is significant because it could hold up the funding of the Pentagon's fiscal 2008 priorities until the standoff is resolved.

It comes only moments after the Republican filibuster succeeded in preventing a vote on the Reed-Levin amendment, which would have mandated withdrawal by April 2008.

Reid said:

I have temporarily laid aside the Defense Authorization bill and have entered a motion to reconsider.

But let me be clear to my Republican colleagues – I emphasize the word "temporarily". We will do everything in our power to change course in Iraq. We will do everything in our power to complete consideration of a Defense Authorization bill. We must do both.

And just to remind my Republican colleagues – even if this bill had passed yesterday, its provisions would not take effect until October.

So we will come back to this bill as soon as it is clear we can make real progress. To that end, I have asked the Democratic Whip and Democratic Manager of the bill to sit down with their counterparts to work on a process to address all outstanding issues related to this bill so the Senate can return to it as soon as possible.

What this means is that Reid isn't allowing any votes on any other Iraq amendments -- not the toothless Warner-Lugar amendment, not the Ken Salazar amendment that would force adoption of the Baker-Hamilton plan, nothing.

Fellow TPM reporter Spencer Ackerman also says that Reid's move is very significant in another way:

Because the Pentagon's priorities won't become law until a Defense Authorization bill is passed, the Pentagon's fiscal 08 priorities won't get funded until this standoff is resolved -- and Reid is insisting that won't happen until the GOP allows a vote on the Iraq withdrawal measures.

More soon.

[do the dhue]

[greyfoxx39]

Its called the Nobel Peace Prize.

Yasser Arafat and Jimmy Carter are recipients. You have to be a true sleaze bag to win it.

Well, shoot...I guess that cuts Rush out...he IS nominated, you know! ;)

[expatpat]

You have to understand he is under tremendous pressure from the moonbats in MoveOn.org, etc. They now own the Democrat party, which is one good thing (I think) that the McCain-Feingold bill did - it drove the ‘rats into the arms of the moonbats. But that will be bad if the ‘rats ever get real power......

[Son House]

do we really think the Republicans are going to fight back?

.
Cheney will. Democrat Majority Press is always going to twist things so Republicans seem to loose, I am going to keep sand bagging the liberals, that all I could really speculate on.

[expatpat]

See post #243

[do the dhue]

I tried to get a picture of Helen Thoma'sdlffdghs;rta vgag but I lost it. Not the picture, but my stability. Matter of fact, I am now experiencing flash backs when I mention Helen Thomadsl ;gdakjs;fib gbggag's name.

I only have one nerve left. You'll have to have someone who has more than that to put a picture of Helen Thoma'adhsg'a;gags up.

Since I can not do Helen Thomadgfsdghahgag, how about this instead?

[do the dhue]

I lost my glasses. I think that says:

It will be a great day when all our children go to private schools and the money wasted on public education goes to building bombers

If so, I like it.

[do the dhue]

If he wants to pull out, why don’t he just pull his own head out?

[MinuteGal]

Start selling War Bonds like in WWII.

Enlist conservative show biz talent to promote sales.

"Buy a Bond Today....Put Food on A Soldier's Tray!"

I'll sign up for 10 bonds right now.

Rotten pond-scum, fifth-column, traitorous bastards......

Leni

[GeorgiaDawg32]

do you mind if I steal that?

[popdonnelly]

She looks like a true patriot. Don’t spoil it by telling me she supports Congress.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Wow...very high risk move by the Democrats. I guess they feel they can't sink any lower than 14%, so they might as well feed their wacko base. But this move could permanently iron in their opposition and lose the middle for them. And they won't ever be able to get the middle back if this doesn't work (if the Republicans don't fold, it won't work).

Wow, really high risk, one could even say desperate. So why are they THIS desperate? What strange bad calculations are seeing out there?

[wpa_mikeb]

If you’ve noticed, the dim bulbs of the MSM are also claiming the amendment would “withdraw all the troops by Spring 2008” when it would have done no such thing.

Every time Reid tries to bring any kind of surrender bill, he gets less votes.

Washington is in gridlock, which is good for America. Less damage.

[do the dhue]

I aint sure what she supports. I think she is a Troop supporter, but am really unsure.

Let’s not ask until she is about 75-80 years old. ;-)

[do the dhue]

I may have stolen it, am kinda unsure of the law.

[Marysecretary]

I’m not sure he has the uh,necessary equipment.

[Marysecretary]

He moved his lips did’t he?

[Hoodat]

John Kerry told us yesterday they had 60 VOTES! SURELY, he wouldn’t LIE, would he?

Lying comes as easily to Kerry as breathing does for everyone else.

[jonrick46]

So, Pinky Reid is resorting to blackmail. What a punk! The nation is watching this fool resort to tactics you would find with the mob in shake down tactics. In this case he is using our heroes in the shake down. Wait until the rage rolls across this country.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Good job. Number one Traitor is Hillary Clinton along with Chuckie Schumer....Ted Kennedy....Levin.....many many more.